The Utah Transit Authority has just concluded its year-long analysis of future transportation needs for Utahns. Michael Allegra, general manager of UTA, says expanding use of technology, more focus on residents’ needs and air quality are becoming focal points of the board.

“So air quality is certainly one if those agendas and our pricing and fare policies are all part of that initiative that they’ve given us discharge to go forth and try to implement,” says Allegra.

Allegra says pitching UTA’s 2020 plan is meant to fit with the 2040 Unified Transportation Plan with the Wasatch Front Regional Council and other local city governments. UTA is hoping the legislature will allow local governments to raise taxes for revenue for future development.

“So it’s an arduous process but we like it like that because at the end of the day, the public gave us great discharge to move forward and build the rail networks that we have,” he says.

Allegra says UTA’s long range 2020 goal is to have a buses stop every 15 minutes within walking distance if every resident of the Wasatch Front. Over the next year, Allegra sees incremental bus route growth and movement toward distance-based fare structures.